Getting Rid of Pacifier - Abington,PA

A friend of mine had this experience...they took the paci and made a cut in it, so that it didnt have the same oral feeling to her son. He didn't like the feelig of it in him mouth anymore and eventually stopped on his own. Plus, if that doesnt work, you can explain that it's "broken" and will have to look for another next time you go to the baby store.

When my oldest son was 2 I told him that we were going to get rid of his pacifiers. I put them in a zip lock baggie and I gave them to him. I told him to throw the bag in the trash and say bye bye to them. In which he did. Then when he wasn't looking I took them out of the trash and hid them, just in case he had a melt down. That worked. He never asked for them again. Good luck.

My daughter was also very attached to her "paci". I decided to cut the nipple all the way off and then I gave it back to her. She tried to put it in her mouth several times...but it kept falling out. She was puzzled, but since she could still hold it she seemed to be ok with it. It wasn't like I took it away from her...she had it, but it was broke. She slept with it in her hand the first few nights...but then quickly forgot about it. I was really nervous to take it away, but I knew it was time and this method worked like a charm!
Good luck!

Is it really that big of a deal? If that is his comfort, why not let him get rid of it when he is ready?

My 2 1/2 year old is really attached (his is a "Bob") to his, but he only uses it at night and when he is in a really uncomforatble place (large group setting). During the day, it has to stay on his pillow, and if he wants it, he has to go to his room and use it on his bed. We have one in the car in case he freaks in a crowd, but we usually tell him "Bob is in the car, when we get to the car you can have it. Bob likes to stay in the car" or "Bob has to stay on your bed, he likes to be on your pillow". He is really shy and doesn't like a lot of change, and if that is what it takes, it doesn't hurt anyone.

I think that the more you struggle about it, the harder it will be for both of you.

My daughter was the same way and one day she said "it's dirty" and that was the end of the binky for her. She was 2, but very very outgoing!

My other daughter has a blankie - she is 10 and can't sleep without it under her pillow. the thing is a grey bundle of stinkiness, lol, but it was her comfort.

I hate to be the odd one out, but I don't think it is a bad thing neccesarily for him to keep the Paco.

Good luck!

Hi K., i have heard of people wrapping the pacifier up like a present and leaving it for the new "babies" in the world and in the morning when the child wakes up theres a present for the child and the pacifiers are gone. Another family I know left them for santa (if you celebrate) and santa left a present in it's place. I have also heard of a family that hung them all in a tree with the childs help and again, in the morning, there are small toys (matchbox cars etc..) hanging in there place. I hope these ideas work. I know all about the pacifier ordeal, all three of my girls had them. I allowed my oldest to keep hers for bed time only and it had to stay in the bed and it was not aloud out of her room. She finally threw them away on her own just before she was 4. I would suggest finding something that works for you and your family and not to worry about what other people might think-- because I know that people have strong views on the pacifier. C.

K.,

My 1st son was quite attached to his "binky" too. We tried getting him to give it up on his own, but he was our first & my husband couldn't stand his crying. However, he was off his bottle by 14 months and by 16 months I knew he had anothe sibling on the way, so we used that he was going to be the big boy to his brother or sister, etc. We got him to the point where it was only for bedtime. By 18 months he was in a Toddler bed transitioning him from teh crib we would need for his sibbling. Everything was leading to him becoming a big boy. His brother was born & he still had it, but about 4 months later, we lost it coming home from a visit at my mom's. I thought for sure we had lost it on the sidewalk and it had snowed so there was about 6" on the ground (we only had one). It was very tough that night and for about the next week, but he was over it then. We found it 2 days later when teh snow started to melt in our own driveway, but quickly through it away. To help him feel better about it, we told him when we lost it that the binky fairy would come & find it & give it to a baby who still needed it because the fairy knows that he is a big boy & doesn't need it anymore. It worked.

My 2nd was not as attached to teh binky and would actually spit it out at night & not require it through the night. With him it was simply, you're a big boy now like your brother and I don't think you need it anymore. I think it's time to throw it away. We had told him the story of his brother's binky & the fairy, so he didn't want to throw it away. Instead, we left it on the counter one night with a note to tha binky fairy that he didn't need it anymore & to please give it to a baby who did. That was it.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

B. D

There is no sure-fire method of getting rid of the pacifier in an easy way. My first child didn't use one. She used me as her comfort and I ended up rocking her to sleep until she was about 18 months old. My son was two when I decided it was time to get rid of the pacifier. He screamed for a long time. I just let him cry it out. Then he started getting out of bed and I just kept putting him back.

I did hear of a method that worked for someone that for her son was relatively calm. When it was time to get rid of the pacifier, she started to cut a little off the pacifier at a time until her son lost interest in them. I don't know if that will work with everyone but, it might be worth a shot.

Good luck.

I understand my son was big for his age and he was also 2 and many people made remarks on why he still had a pacifer. I should have listened to my mom when she told me no child ever went to school with one. When I did take it away he had trouble sleeping and nap time stopped, I told him I was giving it to a new baby that needed one. (I think now I would have let him keep it to sleep with)

Hi K.,

Here is a web site:

http://www.husbandhood.net/how-to-get-your-baby-or-toddle...

Hope this helps. D.

Instead of the garbage truck have you thought about the Binky Fairy? I think there's even a book about the Binky Fairy. Tell him that he's a big a boy and that the babies need the binky's now so the binky fairy is going to come and take the binky's to the babies and leave him with a gift. You can even package them up in a nice box and leave them for the Binky Fairy.

As for my 2.5 y/o DS - just recently he forgot about them. He went to bed one night without one, and then another night, and then another... I haven't said anything, he hasn't asked so we're leaving it as is!

J.

K.
You have to just do it. I was so afraid of taking my first sons pacifier from him I waited until three years old. You know what-it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. I would say do it on a Friday or whenever you have a few days that you don't have to be up early. He may cry at night-let him cry himself to sleep if need be. Don't give in. A few nightts of this should do the trick.

Another thing to consider: my son is 6 now and his teeth are really messed up from it and he will need major orthodontia.

A friend of mine just told her son she lost it and played dumb everytime he asked for it. After about a week he gave up. My son is also attached to his "na-na" but we have been telling him he has to give it to a baby at his next birthday since he will be a big boy. He tells me it's for the baby, then says no, but we have less thana month until his birthday, so hopefully all will go well! I have also read that you can give a special gift (since you have mentioned puttting it in the garbage truck) to signify the event but never to make the gift food related. We are planning to give our son a "big boy bed" since he is giving up the na-na. He is currently still using a crib.

Hi K.,

My daughter was SUPER attached to her "paci" when she was little. She still had it when she was around 2 1/2 also. My best friend had a dog that my daughter adored and we came up with the idea that we would "let" her dog take my daughter's paci and chew a whole in it. Her dog did a very good job chewing the paci up and from that day forward my daughter never needed her paci again.

L.

Hi K.! My daughter was very attached to her paci as well. We gave her a timeline (after we got back from our vacation from the shore) and then told her we were going to send it up to the paci fairy so that the paci fairy could give it to a baby who needs it. When we got back from the shore we bought some balloons and a very special big girl gift that would be from the paci fairy. We tied her paci to the balloons and let her send it up and when we came inside the paci fairy had left her a gift on her bed to thank her for her paci. We did this when my daughter was 2, she is 4 now and still talks about it. It was a very positive experience and it made her feel good knowing that a baby who needed a paci got hers. I thought there was going to be a lot of tears but there were none! Another tip is when you decide to do this, make sure you have gotten rid of ALL the pacifiers except the one you are going to send up. That way there is no temptation to give in after you have made the decision. I hope this helped! K.

You could try saying that there are other kids who don't have a Paco and suggest that maybe now that he's getting to be a big boy he could give it to someone else who would need it more than him. It might be an easier transition than him thinking it's going in the trash.

I've also heard people saying they put a hole in it so it doesn't work right any more.

Personally, I'd just take it away and let my kids cry it out. I'm sure they'd get over it quickly. But I know that's not a method that everyone is comfortable with. Good luck!

A couple of ideas.

Tell you son that Paco is his responsibility and if he falls on the floor during the night he has to be a big boy and find it by himself. (teaches personal responsibility)

You can also buy or make a shadowbox to put Paco in and mount it on the wall in a place of honor in your son's room, so he still has Paco, but can't use it any more.

You can also "send" Paco to another little boy in poor country who doesn't have his own Paco. (teaches social responsibility)

Hi K.,

My daughter was VERY attached to her "binky". She would walk around with up to 5 at a time. She would have 1 in her mouth, and a couple in each hand. There was a point when she was about 2 I think that I stopped letting her have it in public. She could have it at home or in the car, but as soon as we were to get out of the car she knew she had to leave it in her carseat. I decided to take them away completely by the time she was 3. The "Binky Fairy" came one night. We put all her binkys under her pillow and in the morning the binkys were gone and the fairy had left her some presents and a handwritten note. The note explained to my daughter that she was a big girl now and didnt need her binkys anymore. The fairy was going to take her binkys to the babies in binky land!! I could not believe how well this worked for us!! We probably had one night where she asked for her binkys, but I reminded her what the binky fairy did with them, and she was fine! Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I am going through the same thing with my 22 month old! She goes to daycare and she doesn't use it all day and they get her to nap without it. She asks for it at naptime and they distract her and she does go to sleep without it. When I go to pick her up she immediately sees me and says "paci!" Yesterday, I distract her with something else and then was really enthusiastic about it. It worked! I did give it to her at bed time though, but when she was asleep I took it out of her crib.

Hang in there.

K. M

How about having him put it "out for the binky fairy" who gives the binkys to babies who needs them? Then the "fairy" can leave him a special toy as a reward!

Hi K. , my daughter is 13 months and I took the pacifier away about a month ago. She doesnt know how to ask for it but she knows when she wants and knows what it is. So I just threw it away and gave her a stuffed animal at night and nap time. It took about 3 days but she is off the binky now, I think cold turkey is the best way but with his age its better to try a better approcah for example "You're a big boy, big boys dont take pacifiers babies do" hope this helps.

i dont know if anyone suggested this or not - and i am not 100% sure that they still do this - but try calling Toys R Us and going there ahead of time and purchasing a gift card for whatever you are willing to spend and then let your son "buy" a "big boy toy" with "Paco" does that make sense? b/c then you are giving him some control over the process - and it emphasizes the big boy transistion instead of just throwing it away

another option - that we did with my daughter b/c she honestly still had hers at night at age 3 - was that my neice was just being born and my sister in law was gracious enough to make a big deal that the new baby needed pacifiers (we called them whoa whoas) and did Jackie (my daughter) have any she could spare she she was a big kid now - so then Jackie felt very proud that she could help her little cousin - so if anyone close to you is having a baby or just had one - whether they plan to use a pacifier or not maybe they could help

and - yes the first few nights were rough - i would suggest doing it on a thursday or friday so you have a few days of no too much sleep before returning to work - also just let her cry it out - bc going in constantly reinforces the attention and he'll start that habit at bedtime- but each night he sleeps without it reward a little something - and then after a few days only reward if they dont cry - then only at night - then every three days etc....

hope that helps - let us know what method you used and what worked!!!

Good Luck!!!

S. W.

OK - how would you feel if someone told you an item that is of great comfort to you was going in the GARBAGE??? That is really traumatic.

I have seen multiple child experts, including SuperNanny recommend giving them to the paci-fairy (in your case, the Paco fairy) to take to a little baby who doesn't have a Paco, and in exchange the Paco fairy will bring your little boy a big boy present.

She then had the toddler put it into a bag and tied it to a tree out front at bedtime.

During the night, the Paco Fairy comes and replaces the Paco with an appropriate and desired gift.

Please consider something other than the garbage, so he can feel good about giving it up!

C.

We had a similar experience as Denise P. We had the "paci fairy" come and take the paci and leave a much wanted gift in it's place. Went through one day of pure torture at bedtime, but it got real better real quick. (My son was 3 at the time!) Hang in there!

My son had a favorite alligator stuffed toy that he slept with and took with him everywhere. When we were ready to get rid of it we told him that he was leaving to go help another younger child that needed someone to sleep with. He was upset but he was really good about it. We gave him an example of a younger cousin and explained that another child needed a friend to help him sleep and comfort him. We explained that he was older and braver and that he didn't need the alligator as much. He really handled it well but he was a bit older than your child.

When my son was that age we just limited his use of the pacifier to nap and bed times. At three years old, he decided he had enough of it and threw it away himself. They do outgrow these things, and I prefer to let my kids do that at their own pace. It's just so much less stressful on the entire household. Good luck.

have to be very careful if you cut pieces off cause that would increase the risk of the kid biting a piece off and then choking on it.

Just take it away period and yes might have a few nights of crying but something that has to be done. Do it maybe on weekend when you dont' need to run around as much tired.

Hi K.

When my son was about the same age we traded the binky for a fish. He was thrilled with the fish until bedtime. We had a few rough nights but I think cold turkey is the way to go. If he has anything he is really interested in maybe a trade would help ease the trasnition. Whatever you do, when "Paco" is gone don't bring it back because that will only prolong his sadness.

You know your son, but if he is compassionate, then this might work...I know people who have had luck asking them to give the pacifier to another baby, and taking the "big boy" to pick up a new "bedtime friend" at the store. One friend's kid picked out a stuffed animal, another a car, whatever works. At the same time, they think that they are helping another baby.

Is not traumatic at all, the sooner you get rid of it the better,just do it. Do you know how harmful it is for your child? ask your doctor,the germs... the teeth... all kinds of things.
god bless

I let my son keep his"binky" until his 3rd birthday. However, everyday for 2 weeks before I told him since he was going to be 3 and 3 year olds don't use binkys because they are big boys It had to go. Everyday and every night before bed I would tell him and he understood because on his birthday he gave it up. Of course he did cry for it but I just reminded him he was a big boy and within a week he didn't cry for it anymore. Another thing I told him was that we were going to "keep it" for when we have another baby who might want it. Obviously we threw them away but when he wasn't around. It helped him better cope with it since someone else will use it eventually. Someone who needed it more than he did.
I hope this helps and good luck it is going to be a tough road.

K.,

Been in your same situation, with both my kids! Totally understand. But the best advice is truely, the sooner the better just throw them away, all of them. Don't keep one for a just in case moment! They have to just go completely and it'll be a hard night or two, but he'll get over it. My son was way more attached than my daughter and I was dreading the day that I took it away and I can't say it was a piece of cake, but it wasn't as bad as i thought, especially when the pacifier wasn't there for me to give in. Its much easier to be strong when you don't have the option to give in. Its like they know that its somewhere in the house versus when they are totally gone. I will tell you that something that helped a little with easing the soothing of sucking at night. For my son we gave him a small Nuby cup at bed with about a 1/4 of water in it. It was just enough to give him a something to suck on and the water was safe for him to fall asleep with, no damage to teeth. He had that for about a week or so and then he didn't care about it anymore and it stopped. Good luck and be firm. Sometimes placing the blame on something else for why the pacifiers aren't there anymore also helps for them not to direct their being upset towards you. I told my son that when he was a certain age or it was a certain day (whatever you want to make up) the pacifier fairy comes and takes them to give them to new babies that don't have any pacifiers. and I explained that if some other little boy didn't give his to the fairies then he would have never had any pacifiers. So its a really nice thing to do. He was no happy about it but accepted the story and he wasn't mad at me for them being gone, b/c he knew it wasn't that I said he couldn't have them. A little reverse psychology kind of. Good luck and sometimes its not as bad as you're anticipating.

J.

Maybe, instead of the garbage truck, try the easter bunny or santa, to help other little boys/girls. Tell him he is a big boy now and it's his turn to help the littler ones. It may be very hard, but it will pass.

My daughter is also two and a half. She takes her Binky at nap time and bed time. I took one until I turned 5 and started kindergarten. I turned out fine (no severe mouth formation) and I know my daughter will too. I know she won't take it to college. Why be in such a rush? He'll give up Paco in his own time.

op.

Again with leaving it for another "baby" (since your son is a BIG BOY now!! :)), how about letting him leave it for Santa? I know it's a while away, but you could always have him "mail" it to the North Pole, and address it to:
Santa Claus
1 Candy Cane Lane
North Pole

And put a little note with your son's name and ask SAnta to give to a little baby who needs it. Good Luck!

Although it is tempting to just toss it, I would advise against that. For my daughter, we used the "Nukie Faerie". We informed her that another baby needed the pacifier, and when she was ready, she should put her "nukie" in a bag and hang it in a tree. The nukie faerie would come, take the nukie and leave her a beautiful present. It took a WHILE for her to be "ready", but SHE did it. She loved the doll! Every once in a while she would say "I want my nukie" to which we replied "But honey, YOU gave it to the nukie faerie, and that new baby is sooo happy. You're such a good girl! Here's your dolly."

Hi K.,

I would just take it away. It may be rough for a couple of days, but the longer you wait, the more attached he will become which will just make it that much harder to get rid of. We took the noonie from our son at 13 months b/c of the "attachment" issues, and honestly it took all of a day for him to forget about it. I say to just take it and give it the the "Paci Fairy" or whatever b/c i have a 5 year old niece (yes, 5 YEARS OLD) and yeah, she still has her binky! Pathetic, I know! She isn't even starting kindergarten b/c of it. It has caused her to have a slight speech impediment and it's just sad that my sis-in-law just "doesn't want to hear her cry" and that's why she still has it. so i am definitely all for just taking it from them! good luck-you can do it!!!!

Well, I have a nephew (Luke) who is very strong willed and stubborn. He is 14 now, but back in the day he used his pacifier all the time (day or night) My sister-in-law tried and tried to get her son to give up the pacifier at about the same age 2 1/2. She even had the pediatrican talk with him. She confided in my parents, who at the time baby sat about 2 or 3 days a week. And one day my Dad had Luke on his lap and said to him something along the lines of you are too old for this, the trashman is coming today how about we walk it to the trash can at the end of the drive your Mom will be so proud of you. Luke thought about it a quite minute and agreed. He got off my Dad's lap and away they went to the end of the driveway. My sister in law couldn't beleive it. He had a few rough nights but it quickly passed. So the reason for my story is maybe someone else closer to your son can talk him into giving it up. Good Luck. Oh, my sister-in-law had a spare tucked away just in case but never had to pull it out. It really was "cold turkey" for Luke. GOOD LUCK

My daughter had a pacifer until 3. We had a bye bye binkie party after she turned three and that seemed to help.

I go along with Kristyn on this one. As a preschool teacher I had many students come in with an attachment to their pacifier. The paci fairy is a great way to help your child make the transition to a "big kid" role. Please remember that this has been a source of comfort and familiarity for your child and it can be scary for it to just "disappear". I would really talk up the Paci fairy- get him excited to become a "big boy" and, since kids don't have a sense of time, help him make a paper chain to count down the days till the fairy comes (if she is coming in 2 weeks then have him help yu make 14 links and hang them someplace special. Each day you cut off a piece of the chain and count how many more days until the fairy comes and with the very last link that is the night you put all the pacifiers in a special bag or box and leave them for the fairy to take away. When he wakes up there will be a special "big boy" present just for him!
This usually works like a charm and since its on their terms they're more likely to move on quickly.
Best of luck!!
R.

Hi K., There is no easy way to get rid of a pacifier once you pass the magic age of about 6 months! Your best bet is to plan on a challenging weekend...the first night will be the worst, the second a bit better, the third a bit better and by the end of a week it should be no problem as long as he doesn't see or hang around anyone with a pacifier! There really is no easy way to break this habit...you just have to bite the bullet and be ready for the tears! What ever you do, do not give the pacifier back once you make the decision to take it away...breaking a pacifier habit is worse the second time and can lead the thumb sucking (this happened to our oldest) which is a harder habit to break! With three girls we have gone through this 4 times...you can do it too! Good luck!

My son is not a paci baby, he sucks his thumb. Not knocking either one but i had a friend tell me that they mailed it to grandma's. i don't know, it may work I think they had to do it like 3 times

when he is sleeping and it falls out of his mouth take it and get rid of it. when he asks for it tell him that it is gone. telling him he is a big boy and does not need paco anymore. tell him he is not a baby. find something else he may like and get him interested in it. does he like to draw,fingerpaint,play at the playground? tell him also if he is good you can go and do something special that he likes to do. he may complain for a few days but he will be fine. just keep him busy and paco will be a friend from the past.

I did like one other poster did...cut pieces of it off until it no longer "works". They loose interest.